Faces of Solar: Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman
- Solar Powers Illinois
- 60 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Key Takeaways:
Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman is a leading voice on how solar energy can strengthen local economies in Illinois, reduce pollution, and save taxpayers money.
As a climatologist and Professor of Environmental Studies at Knox College, Schwartzman brings both academic expertise and real-world leadership to Illinois’ clean energy transition.
Galesburg has saved its taxpayers millions of dollars through energy aggregation and investments in solar energy.
Peter Schwartzman, Mayor of Galesburg, Illinois, has dedicated virtually every part of his life to advancing climate solutions and establishing himself as a leading voice advocating for clean energy in Illinois.
In addition to his elected position, Schwartzman has taken on many other roles studying, implementing, and teaching environmental solutions – including as a Professor of Environmental Studies at Knox College and a climatologist.
His work in the public and academic sectors has established him as one of central Illinois’ foremost experts on using solar energy and other renewables as multi-pronged solutions to issues extending well beyond climate protection.
“Energy reform can provide the biggest bang for our buck and provides the swiftest method to introduce other impactful solutions as well,” Schwartzman said. “With thoughtful integration of renewables and electrification, we can in one fell swoop greatly diminish pollution from fossil fuels, improve local energy generation and self-sufficiency, increase good-paying jobs, and benefit natural ecosystems.”
Peter Schwartzman on the Role of Local Government in Clean Energy Transition
Galesburg is a quintessential case study of how solar energy in Illinois, as well as other types of renewables, can benefit communities of any size, whether a rural village or a sprawling metropolis. The city of about 30,000 residents has made significant investments in clean energy over the last decade.
“Even cities as small as Galesburg use a ton of power,” Schwartzman said. "Renewable energy projects allow us to become more self-sufficient and self-reliant when it comes to our energy future.”
In 2020, Galesburg installed a 1.9 megawatt solar array at its municipal water pumping station, reducing up to 50% of the facility’s natural gas usage and saving city taxpayers approximately $50,000 per year, Schwartzman said.
The installation has been so successful the city is actively working on several other solar farms to power municipal facilities and is also considering a geothermal installation at another building.
Schwartzman said it’s important to note that, contrary to some persistent misconceptions, clean energy does not take up significant plots of land. It’s a cost- and space-effective technology, he said.
“Rural areas have a ton of land that can be utilized for these projects and even if a fraction, 2%, of the land was dedicated to these types of efforts, we could produce all the electricity we would ever need,” Schwartzman said.
Beyond taxpayer savings, every single household and small business in Galesburg directly benefits from clean energy in the form of lower energy bills. Galesburg is one of a handful of Illinois cities that participate in a municipal energy aggregation program. Under the program, the city government contracts with a private energy provider to supply power for Galesburg residents and small businesses.
By aggregating power in this way, Schwartzman said Galesburg has saved its residents almost $10 million on their electricity bills since its implementation in the early 2010s. Even more impressive is that all power purchased during the first decade of the program was 100% renewable, meaning the whole city was powered by clean energy!
Inspiring Climate Action in Illinois and Beyond
Outside of the classroom and Galesburg City Hall, he has authored a book titled, “The Earth is Not for Sale: A Path Out of Fossil Capitalism to the Other World That is Still Possible,” published various studies and policy documents, and produced a wide array of educational videos on his YouTube channel, One Human Now.
While Schwartzman acknowledges that the climate crisis has made many people feel helpless and that it seems insurmountable at times, he is dedicated to helping his students, neighbors, and global community see that there is always a solution.
While large-scale solutions may provide the biggest impact – such as Illinois’ upcoming Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program made possible by the recent passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) – but that does not mean individuals can’t affect positive change.
“Ultimately, I want people to know that there are unlimited things they can do to contribute positively to our future,” Schwartzman said. “They need to look past the pessimism and cynicism that prevails in many parts of our culture and see the ‘other world that is still possible.”